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I've seen some reviews and photos where people were not happy with the attempt to "modernize" the furnishings and decor (?maybe just the bar area?) but I can't remember where I saw the photos. I think it was on some expat blog site.

Thanks Christina, that was an excellent report. From what it shows, I don't think I lke it either.
Maybe it was old and needed some updates but why not keep the look of the era. I liked the red better. I wouldn't mind the blue if it wasn't so modern. Oh well, I guess you just have to keep looking up!

I'm so glad we went there in June. At that time it lived up to our happy memories there.

BTW, in June it was so hot in there we almost left. Did they do anything about that, like air conditioning?
I realize that it's an old, old building but the discomfort was high.

I have used the Train Bleu on many occasions pre-refurb, and recently had lunch there after the refurb, keen to see what they'd done to the old place...

I'm pleased to confirm that in the main dining areas, it has lost none of its character.

Little has changed except the old red leather giving way to new blue leather and a general lightening up which I can't totally put my finger on. Less heavy use of gold paint in the main hall ceiling and a cleaner wooden floor, perhaps, although there remains distinctly heavier use of gold paint on the ceiling in the far end dining area. The furniture itself appears to be the same, right down to the dressers marked 'PLM' for the Chemin de Fer Paris, Lyon Mediterranee. And the paintings certainly haven't changed.

The bar area main corridor hasn't lost all its character either, in spite of more modern seats replacing the old tatty ones. This was the area I was most worried about when the refurb started!

The lounge areas either side of the corridor have new furniture and now look quite smart. A worthy VIP lounge whilst waiting for your train even if you're not dining - which I suppose justifies what they charge for a coffee or a beer...

The one room which HAS lost its character is the gents loos, where ancient French plumbing has given way to smart new fittings and even avant-garde two-horned Dyson hand-dryers built into the taps (fawcett in American?) which took some working out. Though perhaps this room losing its character is no bad thing given the state it was in!